At #Westmoot you can find like-minded folks! This is a photo from the first meeting of Amon Goveathas, the TS Smial of Washington D.C. which was formed at #Westmoot25 when new friends realized that they were all from the same area. This is the magic of Westmoot! Come find your people! #intothewest

One cosplay to rule them all! #Westmoot26 committee member @tyharnar.bsky.social and #Westmoot25 attendee @kaiakayy.bsky.social posed for a photo at DragonCon. What an incredibly cool depiction of the Dark Lord! Facing Sauron is easier in a #Westmoot shirt! www.westmoot.org #intothewest

We love this fantastic cosplay moment by attendees Lea @silmarilleanne.bsky.social and Bree @narusasu.bsky.social at #Westmoot25! Are you planning a Tolkien cosplay for Halloween this year? Or perhaps for #Westmoot26 next year? #intothewest #westmoot

“It’s a good day for long tales, for questions and for answers, so Tom will start the talking.” (JRRT) #Westmoot isn’t just about the engaging presentations, it’s also about the questions and discussions that follow. You never know what may arise. Cheers to those who ask! #Westmoot25 #intothewest

This past summer, #Westmoot26 committee member Ty Harnar wore his Westmoot shirt to DragonCon. There he met many familiar characters (and buildings!) from Tolkien’s legendarium. We love seeing these awesome cosplays! Get yourself a shirt on our website! www.westmoot.org #westmoot #intothewest

Janet Brennan Croft and Tim Lenz introduced The Mythopoeic Society to our #Westmoot25 attendees in an engaging presentation. Janet, who serves as chair of the society, introduced Mythlore, their journal of peer-reviewed scholarly articles, only one of their many publications! #westmoot #intothewest

The Hobbits would have loved to hang out with Elizabeth Perico, the Head of Operations and Programming for #Westmoot25, when she visited the Weston Brewing Company! Where are you wearing your Westmoot shirt? You can still get one on our website! www.westmoot.org #westmoot #intothewest

At #Westmoot25, Subcommittee member Ed Burley @edburley.bsky.social presented, “There and Back Again: Tolkien’s War from Cannock Chase to the Some and Little Haywood” exploring the historical context of Tolkien’s experiences in the First World War. Thanks, Ed! #westmoot #intothewest

At #Westmoot25, the Athrabeth podcast presented, “The Unsung Underachievers of Tolkien’s Legendarium” with special guest Knewbettadobetta, each choosing a character from Tolkien’s work who they think did not live up to their potential, the ‘wet noodles’ of Arda. #westmoot #intothewest

At #Westmoot25, James Tauber gave his presentation, “The State of the Digital Tolkien Project” outlining the goals, recent development, and future plans of the Tolkien Society Award winning Digital Tolkien Project. #westmoot #intothewest

A week ago, lovely #Westmoot25 attendees and committee members met at #Oxonmoot for a photo. It was a wonderful time in Oxford, and what a pleasure it was to see our Westmoot pals again. It made us excited for #Westmoot26! Thanks for a great moot, @tolkiensociety.org! #westmoot #intothewest

In his #Westmoot25 paper, “What Did Sam Know? Estel, Defiance, and Antidotes to Despair Today,” Marc Mullinax examined the concept of Estel through the lens of selected modern philosophers, and explored how Sam carries hope forward in difficult times. #westmoot #intothewest

Westmoot folks who are attending Oxonmoot this weekend- we’re going to take a Westmoot group photo in front of the dining hall at 11:30! Spread the word! See you soon! #westmoot #oxonmoot #intothewest

From all of us at Westmoot, we hope everyone has a great time this weekend at #Oxonmoot, whether you are attending in-person or online! Pictured here is Frodo Baggins- oops, we meant Zak Francis, carrying the Ring to Mordor and making a quick stop at #Westmoot25. #westmoot #intothewest

Our #Westmoot25 subcommittee member, Ian Barnstead, gave his presentation, “Tolkien, Newman, and Conscience” exploring the depths of choice made by Tolkien’s characters through the lens of English Catholic writer, John Henry Newman’s examination of conscience. #westmoot #intothewest

“Beneath the roof of sleeping leaves the dreams of trees unfold…” (JRRT). Our #Westmoot25 attendees embraced their inner Hobbit and planted trees in Kansas City with Rev. Kelly Demo and local group Bridging the Gap. What a lovely way to honor Tolkien’s love of trees! #westmoot #intothewest

For our #Westmoot25 attendees with “…the Elvish appetite for music and poetry and tales” (JRRT), composer Paul Corfield Godfrey gave an introduction to his upcoming project, “Musical Chapters from The Lord of the Rings after the mythology of J. R. R. Tolkien.” #westmoot #intothewest

Artist Yifan Jia shows off her beautiful work at #Westmoot25, including her gorgeous, gold leafed portrait of Finrod. We were so fortunate to have many talented artists inspired by the work of JRR Tolkien join us in the art show last year. #westmoot #intothewest

Tolkien scholar and author Nicholas Birns presented his paper, “Freedom From History in Tolkien” at #westmoot25 in which he explored three thematic locales that could be argued are set apart from history in Middle-earth. #westmoot #intothewest

Before the start of the #westmoot25 weekend, the Tolkien Society of Kansas City and the National WWI Museum & Monument hosted a fun Tolkien Trivia Night! Many of our attendees tested their knowledge of the Professor’s legendarium and took part in a costume contest. #westmoot #intothewest

In his #westmoot25 keynote address “Vulnerability and Compassion,” famed artist Donato Giancola discussed his portrayal of moments of empathy and compassion, bonding his subjects in acts of friendship- traits that were key to the success in the quest to destroy the One Ring. #westmoot #intothewest

“Then at last his gaze was held: wall upon wall, battlement upon battlement, black, immeasurably strong, mountain of iron, gate of steel, tower of adamant, he saw it: Barad-dûr, Fortress of Sauron.” (JRR Tolkien) Gaze upon Rowan Mahajan's stunning “Atelier Barad-dûr” at #Westmoot25! #westmoot

At #Westmoot25, Dr. Katherine Wyma presented, ’We are too closely akin, in many ways besides blood’: Familial Relationships and Camaraderie in the Time-travel Writings of JRR Tolkien and Connie Willis“ exploring the use of dreams as an indicator of familial and relational belonging. #westmoot

In the words of Bilbo, we wish to make an announcement! (JRR Tolkien) Westmoot will return in 2026! More information will be available in the coming months, so keep your eyes on this space! We hope to see you there! #westmoot #westmoot26 #intothewest

Robert Au @jankybarns.bsky.social, #westmoot25 attendee and co-organizer of the Carrock Smial, wore his #Westmoot shirt while berry picking in Northern California! You’ll look -berry- snazzy in a #Westmoot shirt too, grab one below and tag us when you wear it! www.westmoot.org #intothewest

The Blue Wizards may have gone east in Middle-earth, but we’re glad they came back west for #westmoot! We are inspired by these beautiful raiments created by Donna and Robert Miller, embodying #Tolkien’s Ithryn Luin (Blue Wizards) during the #westmoot25 Opening Night Masquerade. #intothewest

Let’s give it up again for our amazing #westmoot25 special guest and opening night MC, @knewbettadobetta.bsky.social! A Tolkien scholar, educator, and content creator, KnewBettaDoBetta’s passion for the Professor's works is electric. It was a pleasure to work with him. #westmoot #intothewest

Professor emeritus Marc Mullinax gives his presentation at #westmoot25, “What Did Sam Know? Estel, Defiance, and Antidotes to Despair Today” exploring the rejuvenation of Estel (hope) today through the lens of Tolkien's words and works of modern philosophers. #westmoot #tolkien #intothewest

Our Shadow Chair Ed Burley wore his #westmoot25 shirt when he visited Tolkien Tage (German for Tolkien Days) this spring! These Hobbit waistcoats would look EVEN BETTER over a Westmoot shirt. Spruce up your wardrobe with a #Westmoot shirt and tag us when you wear it! www.westmoot.org #intothewest

Tolkien scholar and author Dr. Brennen McKenzie presented “Schrödinger's Author: Biographical & Barthesian Readings of Tolkien's Legendarium” at #Westmoot25 exploring what is gained and lost when employing biographical information in our reading of #Tolkien’s work. #westmoot #intothewest

The wandering minstrel and founder of Lonely Mountain Band, John Di Bartolo @lonelymountainband.bsky.social graced us at #westmoot25 with his famed musical storytelling. The beautiful song “Ballad of Aiglos” is written from the perspective of Gil-galad's spear! #westmoot #intothewest

Author, librarian, and historian Cherié Weible presented “The Tolkien Brothers in World War I” at #Westmoot25. Her presentation explored the experience of JRR and Hilary #Tolkien in the war, using the experience of the common soldier to contextualize that time in their lives. #westmoot #intothewest

#Westmoot on the West Coast! D. Scott Fortner, Social Coordinator for #westmoot25, repped his shirt at the Monterey Bay Aquarium this summer. Seeing our shirts out in the wild makes us want to shell-ebrate! Get your shirt here, and tag us when you wear it! www.westmoot.org #intothewest

Dr. Kristine Larsen published a slightly expanded version of her #Westmoot25 presentation “Riddles in the Dark (of Space), or, Further Adventures Romanticizing Astronomers’ Middle-earth Identified Research” and you can read it here: scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftol... #westmoot #intothewest #tolkien

#Westmoot25 Shadow Chair Ed Burley @edburley.bsky.social sported his #westmoot shirt when he visited De Tolkien Winkel (Dutch for the Tolkien Shop), posing with owner René van Rossenberg. Don’t forget to pack a Westmoot shirt for your next adventure! Snag one here: www.westmoot.org #intothewest

Did you get to hear Janet Brennan Croft’s beautiful Keynote at #Westmoot25, “‘What Ship Will Bear Me Ever Back’: Woundedness and the Western Sea”? If not, never fear! You can read it online: scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftol... Thank you, @banzailibrarian.bsky.social! #westmoot #intothewest

Thinking back to that breathtaking moment at the #Westmoot25 opening night Masquerade when Krishane Jones presented “Elwing Transformed”! It was glorious to see her unfurl her beautiful cosplay as “she flew over the water to seek Eärendil her beloved” (JRR #Tolkien). #westmoot #intothewest

Researching Tolkien? A new book series to be published by McFarland- Studies in Tolkien - is now accepting proposals for scholarly monographs or shorter Critical Companions. Follow the link for proposal guidelines. annasmol.net/2025/06/18/s...

Did you miss #Tolkien author Thomas P. Hillman’s talk at #westmoot25? You can read his fascinating paper online! Check out “Túrin was dead, to begin with: Death, Fate, and a Happy Ending in 'The Book of Lost Tales'”: scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftol... Thanks @alas-not-me.bsky.social! #westmoot

Spotted at Stanford University! Stef Midlock reps Westmoot in front of Deborah Kass’s OY/YO sculpture. Just as art bridges perspectives, #Westmoot25 brought together #Tolkien fans from around the world to celebrate the stories we love. Where are you wearing your #Westmoot shirt? #intothewest

Can you believe #Westmoot25 was a month ago? #Tolkien scholar Anna Smol has posted about #Westmoot on her blog, including the text of her engaging keynote “Into the West: Tolkien's Mythmaking and Dreams of Eärendil.” Thank you for sharing, @annasmol.bsky.social! annasmol.net/2025/05/28/s...

Spotted in the wild: Subcommittee member Clare Moore repping her #Westmoot25 tee! We love seeing Tolkien's legacy carried into everyday life. Got your #westmoot tee? Tag us and show us where Middle-earth meets your world! #intothewest

Meet the youngest #westmoot25 attendee! Seeing Tolkien’s world through the eyes of a child reminds us why we gather- to celebrate wonder, courage, and imagination across all ages. May #westmoot be the first step in this little one’s Tolkien journey. #intothewest

Where in the world is Westmoot? We would love to see you in your Westmoot shirt wherever you are in the world! Take a photo of yourself wearing your shirt in your hometown or out on an adventure! Make sure to tag #westmoot when you do, so we can see it! #westmoot25 #intothewest

This is so lovely, @annasmol.bsky.social! Thank you for sharing!

There were so many wonderful artistic, literary, and collectable treasures to explore in the Dealer's Room at #Westmoot25! Did you purchase something special for your #Tolkien collection? We’d love to see what you got! #Westmoot #intothewest

Don’t these #westmoot25 attendees look fantastic in their snazzy Westmoot shirts? It is not too late to get yourself a shirt too! Check out our website and buy yourself a #Westmoot shirt! www.westmoot.org #intothewest

Calling all #Westmoot25 attendees! You have received an email from Shaun Gunner with a link to the #Westmoot 2025 feedback form. We want to hear from you! To help make our next moot even better, please fill out the feedback form. Your comments and suggestions are greatly appreciated! #intothewest

Many thanks to our mighty #westmoot photographers, Cheryl Johnson, Jim Vaiknoras, and Elizabeth Wong Barnstead! They worked hard all weekend to document #westmoot25, and their photographs and videos are a beautiful reminder of this fantastic Moot! #intothewest #tolkien

It’s been one week since we parted ways, and we’re sharing more memories from #westmoot25! Thank you to all who came this year, and we hope to see even more of you at #westmoot next year! #intothewest #tolkien